JUSTICE secretary Kenny MacAskill announced the victim surcharge would be included in a new bill to help both victims and witnesses.

PROPOSALS to make offenders pay towards the cost of supporting victims of crime are to be included in new legislation, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced.

The Scottish Government has previously carried out a consultation on whether a new victim surcharge - which could raise more than £1.2 million a year - should be brought in.

Today Mr MacAskill announced it was one of the measures to be included in a new Bill that aims to help both victims and witnesses.

The Justice Secretary said the Victims and Witnesses Bill would "put victims' interests at the heart of improvements to the justice system".

He added: "We have listened to what people have told us about how the experience of being a victim of or a witness to a crime can be made less traumatic. I am confident that the changes proposed in this Bill, alongside the continuing improvements we are making to the justice system, will help make what is often the most difficult episode in someone's life a bit easier."

It is proposed that the victim surcharge would be imposed on all offenders who are given a fine by the courts.

The amount they would pay under the scheme would be based on a sliding scale, depending on the severity of their offence.

The Scottish Government estimated such a scheme could raise in excess of £1.2 million a year, which would go towards providing immediate support and assistance to victims of crime.

The Bill also plans the introduction of restitution orders, which would see those who assault the police having to pay towards services which support injured officers.

If it is passed, courts would also have to consider imposing compensation orders for victims in relevant cases.

The legislation would give victims and witnesses a right to certain information about their case, such as the time and place of the trial, and would allow victims to speak to the Parole Board when it considers releasing offenders who have been given a life sentence.

In addition it would create a presumption that some types of victim - including those subjected to sexual offences, domestic abuse, stalking and human trafficking - are vulnerable, allowing special measures to be used to support them when giving evidence, such as giving their testimony from behind a screen or via a video link.

Victims of sexual assaults will also be allowed to choose the gender of the police officer who interviews them.

Mr MacAskill described the victim surcharge as being "one of the key proposals in the Bill", adding it would "provide additional funding to help support the immediate needs of victims of crime".

It would not replace existing support provided to victims' organisations, such as Victim Support Scotland (VSS).

These bodies receive more than £5 million a year, with the Scottish Government committed to maintaining that level of support over the next two years.

As part of its work, Victim Support Scotland operates a Victims' Fund, with Mr MacAskill saying the surcharge scheme "will likely operate on a similar model and be aimed at meeting the immediate needs of victims of crime".

He met two people who had been helped by the fund, Audrey McGuire and Harry Lindsay.

It paid for an alarm to be installed in Ms McGuire's home in Airdrie after the 33-year-old was attacked in the property by her then partner while her children slept.

It is also covering the cost of replacing the blood-stained carpets and flooring in the house.

The mother-of-three said: "I had no access to funding of any sort and was living in constant fear in my home. The Victims' Fund has paid for an alarm system which makes me and my children feel safe again.

"They are also arranging for bloodstained flooring and carpeting to be replaced. The stains were a constant reminder to me and the children of what occurred when I was attacked in my home."

She added: "I appreciate all that has been done for me by Victim Support Scotland but realise that they can only help if they have funds available.

"It makes sense to me as a victim that those who commit crimes and are brought before the courts should contribute to the recovery of victims and their families."

The same fund helped Mr Lindsay, and allowed him to travel to Spain to press the authorities there to investigate the death of his son.

Mr Lindsay believes his 34-year-old son Christopher, who was from Edinburgh, was murdered.

The father-of-three died in a Costa del Sol hospital in October 2011 five days after a night out with workmates. He had heavy bruising and his passport and money were missing.

Mr Lindsay said: "The Victims' Fund came to the rescue of my family at a time when were at the height of a campaign to have the death of my son Christopher formally investigated by the Spanish police.

"Irrespective of the outcome of that investigation, we will be forever grateful to Victim Support Scotland for their continuing support."

David McKenna, the chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said a "great deal" could be done with the additional cash a victim surcharge would raise.

He added: "The VSS Victims' Fund has been able to assist about 200 individuals over almost four years.

"These were people who literally had no access to assistance of any kind, and at a time when they were desperately in need of support. I believe that with access to additional funds we could do a great deal more to help those most in need."

Scottish Women's Aid also welcomed the Bill, with spokeswoman Louise Johnstone saying: "Particularly welcome are the specific proposals to further protect and support vulnerable witnesses giving evidence in court, including children and those who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual offences and stalking."